Sherman and his team made a public statement when they locked arms during the National Anthem at a September 11 game against the Miami Dolphins.

The usually outspoken cornerback was somber as he told reporters that many are “missing the point” in regards to why athletes like Colin Kaepernick are standing their ground and speaking out against racial injustice in America. Sherman believes Kaepernick and many others who have joined him are working to bring awareness and unification. Instead, the message has been “ignored,” he said.

“I think the last couple days a couple more guys have gotten shot and killed in the middle of the street. More videos have come out of guys getting killed, and I think people are still missing the point,” he said. “The reason these guys are kneeling, the reason we’re locking arms is to bring people together to make people aware that this is not right. It’s not right for people to get killed in the street.”

Sherman, who grew up in Compton, California and works closely with youth, said it’s become increasingly harder to convince his mentees that justice will prevail in the wake of recent events.

“When you tell a kid, ‘When you’re dealing with police, just put your hands up and comply with everything,’ and there’s still a chance of them getting shot and no repercussions for anyone, that’s an unfortunate time to be living,” he said. “It’s an unfortunate place to be in. There’s not a lot you can tell a kid.”

Sherman’s comments on Wednesday are starkly different from previous comments he made in July 2016, when he doubled down on previous “all lives matter” comments in response to the rally cry, “Black Lives Matter.”